Written Answers Monday 1st June 2009

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive which sports will be contested as part of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: The 17 sports in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games programme are aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, judo, lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

  After each games there is a review of the sports programme by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to ensure forthcoming games are likely to be of sufficient international competitive standard. Ideally, events should have at least 10 competitors representing at least six countries from three continental regions.

  In November 2006, the CGF agreed changes in their approach to the inclusion of sports in the Commonwealth Games programme and decided there should be three categories: Category 1 - ten core or compulsory sports; Category 2 - a list of sports eligible for inclusion in the games from which each bidding city can draw up to seven sports, and Category 3 - sports recognised by the CGF for development purposes but which cannot be included in the games yet. It is for bidding cities to propose a sports programme which complies with those criteria.

  The sports programme contained in the successful bid for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was selected to give the best balance of sports and events. It took account of the likely spread of medal success and the potential legacy from inclusion of the sport, taking into account the level of interest and the range and depth of potential athlete entries from across the Commonwealth. The programme selected also made best use of Glasgow’s existing and proposed venues.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and which of the sports at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games will be contested by (a) men and (b) women only.

Shona Robison: Men will be able to compete in 16 of the 17 sports in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games programme, the exception being netball. Within the gymnastics programme, the rhythmic gymnastics events are restricted to women. Women will be able to compete in all but three of the 17 sports in the programme. Women will not compete in boxing, rugby sevens or wrestling.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many medals will (a) men and (b) women be able to compete for during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: Although the sports to be included in the 2014 Commonwealth Games have been agreed, the final programme of individual events will be determined by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The Federation will undertake a review of the potential events following the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October 2010. Commonwealth Games Scotland and the organisers of the 2014 Games will be consulted as part of this review before a final programme of events is agreed. The final programme will determine the number of events open to men and women (or both).

2014 Commonwealth Games

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to decide which sports will be contested as part of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24118 on 1 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliaments website:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Animal Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of animal cruelty were recorded in each of the last five years and how many were successfully prosecuted, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The following tables contain information on the number of animal cruelty offences recorded by the police and the number of persons with a charge proven for such offences in each of the last five years.

  Animal Cruelty Offences1 Recorded by the Police, 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

Police Force
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
16
18
13
18
17


Dumfries and Galloway
17
21
4
12
16


Fife
6
8
7
10
6


Grampian
35
30
32
54
16


Lothian and Borders
24
14
60
61
23


Northern
15
15
14
16
13


Strathclyde
77
78
56
72
37


Tayside
18
13
14
12
3


Scotland
208
197
200
255
131



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Note: 1. Includes the following crime categories (a) cruelty to animals (excluding dogs) including killing and maiming cattle; (b) cruelty to dogs, and (c) cruelty to wild animals.

  Persons with a Charge Proven in Scottish Courts for Animal Cruelty Offences1,2, 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

Police Force
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central 
5
1
3
1
4


Dumfries and Galloway
2
3
2
2
2


Fife 
1
3
1
3
2


Grampian 
8
3
9
4
8


Lothian and Borders 
3
-
9
10
13


Northern 
9
12
14
5
15


Strathclyde 
10
23
13
41
47


Tayside 
5
2
1
2
3


Scotland
43
47
52
68
94



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. Includes the following crime categories (a) cruelty to animals (excluding dogs) including killing and maiming cattle; (b) cruelty to dogs, and (c) cruelty to wild animals.

  2. Where main offence.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may be altered as a result of the judicial process. Crimes alleged to have been committed by under 16-year-olds are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than the courts.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can guarantee that the Curriculum for Excellence will achieve a balance of progress for pupils across all subjects, including mathematics and science, at all levels.

Fiona Hyslop: Progression to meet the varied needs of children and young people is a fundamental principle of Curriculum for Excellence. The experiences and outcomes, which have been developed on the basis of unparalleled engagement with the teaching profession and others, are designed to enable progression and provide opportunities to consolidate and extend learning across all curriculum areas including mathematics and science.

European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has received to support the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.

Fiona Hyslop: Neither the European Commission nor the UK Government has a funding stream dedicated to the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. No funding has, therefore, been received by the Scottish Government.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the UK Department of Health the development of the Family Nurse Partnership programme in England since 2007 and, if so, on how many occasions.

Shona Robison: We have met with the central Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team in England on a number of occasions to discuss how the programme could be developed. The licensing agreement is usually accompanied by a consultancy agreement, with the US. However, we have gained agreement from both Professor Olds and the UK Department of Health, that the central FNP team will offer Scotland the consultancy support.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are employed in the piloting and evaluation of the Family Nurse Partnership model; when these posts were advertised, and when they commence.

Shona Robison: We currently have one policy lead involved in programme management of the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) pilot who started work in post just before Christmas 2008. We also have one FNP Implementation Lead, which is a seconded post from the NHS for two years. The post was advertised in January 2009, and the Implementation Lead began work on 20 April 2009.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its staff posts related to the piloting of the Family Nurse Partnership involve secondment to the Family Nurse Partnership programme in England and, if so, for what period of time.

Shona Robison: We are working collaboratively with the central Family Nurse Partnership team in England. No formal secondment is envisaged.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lothian pilot of the Family Nurse Partnership will be completed and when it will be evaluated.

Shona Robison: Evaluation of the programme is key to assessing its success. The evaluation tender is being considered now, and the researchers will be in place when client recruitment begins in January 2010. The programme will be continually monitored, using agreed quality control measures, to ensure measurable outputs are met. It is intended that evaluation of outcomes will be undertaken on three occasions over the term of the pilot; at the end of pregnancy phase (summer 2011), infant phase (summer 2012) and toddler phase (summer 2013). It is expected the pilot for this initial cohort will finish around March 2013.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being made available for the Lothian pilot of the Family Nurse Partnership.

Shona Robison: Funding for the pilot is still being assessed, and is partly dependant on the grades agreed for the nurses. However, the intention is to fully fund the nursing posts, administration, implementation lead and clinical psychologist for two years. Set up costs will also be included and these will be paid directly to NHS Lothian.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what grades of nurses are participating in the Lothian pilot of the Family Nurse Partnership.

Shona Robison: There will be seven nurses included in the pilot. The job descriptions are adapted from the American requirements, which form part of the core model elements. The job descriptions are currently going through the Scottish Agenda for Change process, and these should be finalised during summer 2009.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what adaptations would be required to the Family Nurse Partnership programme in England to allow it to be provided in Scotland.

Shona Robison: No adaptations are required.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Family Nurse Partnership pilot in Lothian will operate under the same type of licence agreement as that in England.

Shona Robison: The Family Nurse Partnership pilot in Lothian will operate under the same type of licence conditions as those in England.

Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had discussions with the British Bankers’ Association in advance of the announcement of the Scottish Investment Bank.

John Swinney: The Scottish Investment Bank will not operate as a commercial bank and therefore there have been no discussions with the British Bankers’ Association.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of knife crime underwent reconstructive surgery in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is not centrally available.

  It is not possible to specifically identify patients who were the victim of knife crime and who had undergone reconstructive surgery from centrally collected data.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have undergone scar management plastic surgery procedures in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are no specific set of codes that define scar management plastic surgery. The following Information includes patients who have been treated for burns and those who have had treatment following the removal of growths (malignant or otherwise) in the specialty of plastic surgery. This has been provided in the following table.

  NHSScotland: Number of Patients Who Undergone Plastic Surgery Treatment for Burns* or Following the Removal of Growths* (Malignant of Otherwise) by NHS Board of Residence for the Years 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

NHS Board
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Ayrshire and Arran
44
56
53
43
40


Borders
13
10
14
9
5


Dumfries and Galloway
14
11
29
17
14


Fife
71
84
79
79
50


Forth Valley
35
32
37
31
38


Grampian
46
51
57
59
73


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
161
184
281
208
168


Highland
96
120
96
74
59


Lanarkshire
96
100
109
87
57


Lothian
123
103
116
97
70


Orkney 
+
+
+
+
+


Shetland
+
+
+
+
+


Tayside
77
59
71
67
46


Western Isles
9
10
16
13
6


Scotland
790
825
962
792
631



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  Notes:

  *Defined as OPCS 4.4 coding as:

  S23.1-Z plasty to head or neck.

  S23.2-Z plasty not elsewhere classified.

  S23.3-W plasty to head or neck.

  S23.4-W plasty not elsewhere classified.

  S60.4 Refashioning of scar not elsewhere classified.

  Y06.4 Excision of scar tissue not elsewhere classified.

  + Information has not be provided for NHS boards where the number of operations are less than five. This is to ensure that individual patients are not identified from the data.

Health

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of violent crime underwent scar management plastic surgery procedures in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many gastric (a) band and (b) bypass operations were performed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The latest available information for the numbers of gastric banding and gastric bypass procedures, with a main diagnosis of obesity, is shown in the following tables.

  Table 1: Gastric Banding Procedures by NHS Board of Residence 2004-08

  

Health Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
5
6
7
*
*


Borders
*
*
*
*
*


Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
*
*
*


Fife
*
*
*
*
*


Forth Valley
*
8
7
7
6


Grampian
7
6
8
23
16


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
30
39
35
50
32


Highland
6
*
*
6
*


Lanarkshire
6
14
12
12
28


Lothian
10
*
*
10
17


Orkney
*
*
*
*
*


Shetland Isles
*
*
*
*
*


Tayside
*
*
*
*
*


Western Isles
*
*
*
*
*


All Scotland
73
83
74
118
111



  Table 2: Gastric Bypass Procedures by NHS Board of Residence 2004-08

  

Health Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
*
*
6
*
8


Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
*
*
*


Fife 
*
*
*
*
*


Forth Valley 
*
*
9
14
26


Grampian
*
*
*
*
5


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
*
16
44
69
107


Highland 
*
*
*
*
6


Lanarkshire
*
*
8
12
17


Lothian
*
*
*
*
*


Shetland Isles
*
*
*
*
*


Western Isles
*
*
*
*
*


All Scotland
*
22
76
100
178



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR01).

  Note: *Numbers under five have not been shown as these are potentially disclosive.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 to 30 had gastric (i) band or (ii) bypass operations in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The latest available information for patients aged up to 17 years and 18 to 30 years undergoing gastric band procedures, where there is a main diagnosis of obesity, is shown in table 1. The latest available information for patients aged up to 17 years and 18 to 30 years undergoing gastric bypass procedures, with a main diagnosis of obesity, is shown in table 2.

  Table 1: Number of Patients Aged Up to 17 and 18 to 30 Years of Age who have Undergone a Gastric Band Operation by NHS Board of Residence 2004-08

  

Age
Health Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Up to 17 years
Lanarkshire
*
*
*
*
*


 
All Scotland
*
*
*
*
*


18-30 years
Ayrshire and Arran
*
*
*
*
*


 
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
*
*
*
*
*


 
Highland 
*
*
*
*
*


 
Lanarkshire
*
*
*
*
*


 
Grampian
*
*
*
*
*


 
Lothian
*
*
*
*
*


 
Forth Valley 
*
*
*
*
*


 
Shetland
*
*
*
*
*


 
All Scotland
10
6
7
8
5



  Table 2: Number of Patients Aged Up to 17 and 18 to 30 Years of Age who have Undergone a Gastric Bypass Operation by NHS Board of Residence 2004-08

  

Age
Health Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Up to 17 years
All Scotland
*
*
*
*
*


18-30 years
Ayrshire and Arran
*
*
*
*
*


 
Fife 
*
*
*
*
*


 
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
*
*
*
*
*


 
Lanarkshire
*
*
*
*
*


 
Forth Valley 
*
*
*
*
*


 
All Scotland
*
*
5
5
*



  Source: Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

  Note: *Numbers under five have not been shown as these are potentially disclosive.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much a gastric (a) band and (b) bypass operation costs.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the cost of carrying out specific operations or clinical procedures is not held centrally.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS-funded gastric (a) band and (b) bypass operations have been performed in private hospitals in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: For NHS patients treated by independent hospitals in Scotland, information is required to be submitted as part of standard national data returns (SMR). However, submissions for independent hospitals are considerably under-reported, thus figures are not routinely published. For the period 2003-04 to 2007-08, there were no recorded NHS-funded gastric banding procedures and gastric bypass procedures, where there is a main diagnosis of obesity, in independent sector hospitals.

  The Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is continuing to work with NHS boards and independent healthcare providers to ensure higher levels of SMR completion.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much an apronectomy costs and how many apronectomy operations were performed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of specific operations or clinical procedures such as apronectomy are not held centrally.

  Information on the number of apronectomy operations undertaken in the last five years by NHS boards is provided in the following table. Apronectomy has being defined as cases where the main diagnosis of plastic surgery has been recorded as unacceptable cosmetic appearance or follow-up plastic surgery procedure. The figures should be treated with caution as they may represent an undercount of the number of cases because these types of diagnosis may not always be recorded.

  NHSScotland: Number of Apronectomy* Operations Undertaken by NHSScotland by NHS Board of Residence for the Year Ending 31 March 2003-08

  

NHS Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
+
+
5
+
+


Borders
+
+
5
+
-


Dumfries and Galloway
+
+
-
+
+


Fife
9
6
11
7
19


Forth Valley
7
+
9
8
+


Grampian
16
6
16
8
10


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
+
+
25
22
13


Highland
7
+
+
8
+


Lanarkshire
+
-
5
8
7


Lothian
27
24
18
21
27


Orkney 
-
-
-
+
-


Shetland
-
-
+
+
-


Tayside
11
17
16
20
25


Western Isles
-
-
+
-
-


Scotland
91
70
117
114
115



  Source ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  *Apronectomy defined as procedure code S02. and with a main Diagnosis Code of Z41.1 or Z42.2.

  +Information has not been provided for NHS boards where the number of operations are less than five. This is to ensure that individual patients are not identified from the data.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS-funded apronectomy operations were performed in private hospitals in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS-funded body contouring operations were performed in private hospitals in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not available centrally.

  For NHS patients treated by independent hospitals in Scotland, information is required to be submitted as part of standard national data returns. However, submissions for independent hospitals are known to be considerably under-reported and thus figures are not published. The Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland is continuing to work with NHS boards and the independent healthcare sector to ensure higher levels of completion.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many body contouring operations were performed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of body contouring procedures undertaken in the last five years by NHS boards is provided in the following table. Body contouring has been defined where the main diagnosis was plastic surgery for an unacceptable cosmetic appearance and include such procedures as facelifts, breast reduction or enlargement and liposuction. These figures should be treated with caution as they may represent an undercount of the number of cases because these cosmetic factors may not be the only or main reason for the surgery and may not always be recorded.

  NHSScotland: Number of Body Contouring* Operations Undertaken by NHSScotland by NHS Board of Residence for the Year Ending 31 March 2003-08

  

NHS Board
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
25
86
82
65
40


Borders
17
19
19
9
6


Dumfries and Galloway
12
13
23
20
7


Fife
74
57
58
45
62


Forth Valley
34
36
49
45
31


Grampian
99
67
122
94
75


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
69
99
282
226
125


Highland
48
34
46
45
23


Lanarkshire
50
55
110
130
80


Lothian
166
157
139
113
110


Orkney 
-
+
+
+
-


Shetland
+
+
+
8
+


Tayside
56
68
76
69
92


Western Isles
-
+
4
+
+


Scotland
652
694
1,015
871
653



  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  *Body contouring defined as procedure codes S01.-,S02.-, S03.-,S48.2-S48.9, S49.1, S49.3-S49.9,S62.2, B31.1 and B31.2 and with a main diagnosis code of Z41.1 or Z42.-.

  +Information has not been provided for NHS boards where the number of operations are less than five. This is to ensure that individual patients are not identified from the data.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the benefits to be of vitamin D in the prevention of multiple sclerosis.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is keen to learn all we can about any possible links between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis and is keeping a very close eye on all the emerging evidence. If the recommendations on vitamin D need to change, we will certainly make the appropriate arrangements.

  In addition the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is currently funding three research grants into multiple sclerosis (MS) at a total cost of £312,310 and two projects into vitamin D, costing £497,710. Additionally the Food Standards Agency is funding other studies on vitamin D which are due to report in the next year or two.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Shine on Scotland campaign for vitamin D to be provided to children and pregnant women in order to prevent the development of multiple sclerosis.

Shona Robison: We are aware of the Shine on Scotland campaign and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has agreed to receive the associated petition in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament on 16 June 2009.

  We recognise the importance of vitamin D in relation to a number of health issues and will consider all of the emerging evidence before coming to any decisions on future action.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the first case of Clostridium difficile was identified at Dr Gray’s hospital by NHS Grampian and when it was first notified to the Scottish Government.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am advised by NHS Grampian that on 30 April 2009 the Infection Control Team at Dr Gray’s Hospital identified a higher than expected number of Clostridium difficile cases recorded over the course of that month. The Scottish Government was notified on the same day.

  NHS Grampian has determined the start of the outbreak in Dr Gray’s Hospital as 1 April 2009. The first case identified thereafter was on 6 April 2009. However, in line with Health Protection Scotland (HPS) guidance, a look back exercise of all Clostridium difficile cases up to 12 weeks prior to 1 April 2009 is now underway. This will confirm when the first case linked to the current incident occurred.

  A full Outbreak Control Report will be available once all investigations are complete.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a review of infection control arrangements in NHS Grampian by Health Protection Scotland and, if so, whether the outcome of the review will be published.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) are providing on-going expert advice to the NHS Grampian Outbreak Control Team to support the management of the current outbreak at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) have also undertaken a review of the infection prevention and control processes in place at Dr Grays. This function is consistent with the NHS QIS remit of providing advice and guidance on effective clinical practice, including setting standards, and to drive and support implementation of improvements in quality across NHS Scotland.

  Their report will be published on the NHS QIS website by the end of June 2009. I will ensure that any lessons needing to be learned are applied to NHS Grampian as well as to NHS Scotland as a whole.

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23818 on 18 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding climate change adaptation projects in developing countries from its environment budget.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government recognizes that climate change is a global phenomenon that will have the greatest impact on some of the countries that are least able to adapt. The top priority is to reduce global emissions in an effort to limit the extent of climate change. Scotland is taking a lead; our mitigation targets are among the most ambitious in the world. Our lead, if adopted by other countries, will benefit all nations.

  But climate change is inevitable and adaptive work will be needed. The scale of the challenge will be great and the Scottish Government will continue to call for international development funding – a matter reserved to the UK Government – to be made available to support the pressures felt by developing nations.

Justice

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how knife crime in schools is reported to the Scottish Government.

Keith Brown: The annual national statistics on exclusions from school centrally record reasons for exclusions including: physical assault with a weapon; physical assault with an improvised weapon, and threat of physical violence using a weapon or improvised weapon. Further detailed recording is a matter for individual local authorities.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims for compensation following a knife attack were (a) made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) upheld in each of the last five years.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims for compensation following a crime of violence were (a) made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) upheld in each of the last five years.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average amount was of compensation awarded in claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for crimes of violence in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is a cross-border public authority and an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. It operates the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme throughout Great Britain. As such, information on the GB-wide operation of the Scheme should be requested of the Authority or of the Ministry of Justice.

Justice

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any public contracts are under investigation for links to organised crime and, if so, which ones.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to working with the police and public bodies to ensure that organised criminals cannot profit from public contracts. It would be inappropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what services are available in each NHS board area for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally. Services for people with post traumatic stress disorder are planned and delivered by NHS boards and their partners to reflect the level of individual clinical need.

  Support for Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder is further enhanced by new arrangements from 1 April this year with the charity Combat Stress for improved access to specialist mental health services, and the Veterans First Point pilot service in Edinburgh for advice and support to Veterans and their families.

Mental Health

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Audit Scotland’s report, Overview of mental health services , whether it considers its funding and policy initiatives in relation to mental health services to be correct.

Shona Robison: The Audit Scotland report acknowledges the priority, commitment and funding support we have given, and will continue to give, to transforming and modernising mental health services, and recognises the strong support given to our policies in this area by our key partners and stakeholders.

  We are aware of the issues raised in the report and have already been taking action in particular on the integration of services, improving information, developing the workforce and reducing waiting times for child and adolescent services and psychological therapies.

  We will continue to work with our partners in the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector to take forward the recommendations in the report and look forward to Audit Scotland’s further work in this area.

Ministerial Visits

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have visited locations in the United States of America where the Family Nurse Partnership scheme is in operation and, if so, which ministers; on how many occasions, and on what dates.

Shona Robison: Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, visited a Nurse Family Partnership Project in Harlem, New York on Friday 10 April 2009.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23008 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2009, to what it attributes the increase, in the last year, in the number of patients discharged from NHS hospitals as a result of death who had a diagnosis of malnutrition and what steps are being taken to reduce such cases.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland is now required to screen all patients on admission to hospital for the risk of undernutrition. As a result, it is likely that there has been an increase in the recording of malnutrition as a contributory cause of death on death certificates. In addition, improvements in the completeness of coding (the numbers of diagnoses that are recorded) may also artificially increase the number of recorded cases of malnutrition on hospital discharge records.

  The figures published in answer to S3W-23008 show all deaths where malnutrition is the principle, or contributory, cause of death. The following table details the number of deaths directly attributable to malnutrition. The numbers of deaths in hospital directly attributable to malnutrition have remained relatively stable.

  Number of Patients Who Died in Hospital and Had a Principle Diagnosis of Malnutrition Year Ending 31 March 1998-2008

  


 
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


All Scotland
4
8
9
8
11
8
12
12
8
4
7




  The Scottish Government is taking forward a comprehensive programme to improve and enhance the nutritional care of patients in hospital backed by £1.5 million of new investment:

  Screening all patients on admission to hospital for the risk of undernutrition and putting in place a care plan to meet the needs of those with, or at risk of, malnutrition.

  Introducing Food in Hospitals, the National Catering and Nutrition Specification for Food and Fluid provision in Scotland, 2008, which assists NHS boards to deliver a healthy balanced diet to all patients.

  Providing £1.08 million to support "nutrition champions" in NHS boards for a period of two years to support the NHS board in the delivery of the Food, Fluid and Nutrition agenda.

  Senior charge nurses playing an important role in ensuring these patients are given care and support to improve and maintain their nutrition where appropriate.

  Protected meal times also ensure that patients are not interrupted unnecessarily and also allows nursing staff more time to spend with patients who need assistance to eat and drink.

  This work links directly with the development of Clinical Quality Indicators, one of which is for food, fluid and nutrition, currently being implemented across NHS Scotland.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23008 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 May 2009, to what it attributes the number of patients discharged from NHS hospitals with a diagnosis of malnutrition and what steps are being taken to reduce such cases.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24140 on 1 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients who arrived at hospital without malnutrition were subsequently (a) diagnosed with and (b) found to have died from malnutrition while in the care of the NHS in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS board and also by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information is not collected in such a way as to identify the number of patients, if any, who arrived at hospital without malnutrition, but subsequently were diagnosed with, and found to have died of, malnutrition.

  The number of deaths in hospital directly attributable to malnutrition between 1998 and 2008 have remained relatively stable, as set out in the answer to question S3W-24140 on 1 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of feeding a hospital patient per (a) meal and (b) day, broken down by NHS board and also by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: No information is held centrally on the cost of feeding a hospital patient per meal or per day by health board or hospital. Scottish Health Service Costs 2008 presents information on catering costs per patient consumer week by Health Board and hospital in tables R070 and R070X. These tables are available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/costs-book-detailed-tables.jsp?pContentID=3612&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much hospital food was wasted in the NHS expressed (a) in cash terms and (b) as a proportion of total expenditure on meals in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board and also by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. All NHS boards in Scotland are working towards meeting Food in Hospitals , the National Catering and Nutrition Specification for Food and Fluid provision in Scotland, 2008, which will assist them to deliver a healthy balanced diet to all patients, and reduce associated wastage.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many untouched meals were disposed of by the NHS expressed in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of total meals distributed in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board and also by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24145 on 1 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS hospitals prepare patient meals onsite and which distribute meals prepared elsewhere.

Nicola Sturgeon: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48225).

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cleaning staff are employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and, in particular, at the (a) Vale of Leven and (b) Royal Alexandra hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally as data on cleaning staff employed by NHS are not captured separately in the workforce statistics. Data is available for the hotel services/domestic staffing group which encompasses staff employed to clean. The following table shows head count and whole time equivalent domestic staff in post at 30 September 2008 who are directly employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Information at hospital level is not available centrally. Information is not available for staff who are employed by external contractors.

  Domestic Staff1 Employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

  

Post description
Head Count
Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE)


Domestic Assistant
1,472
848.8


Domestic Assistant Higher Level
605
382.5


Domestic Supervisor
145
117.7


Domestic Supervisor Higher Level
1
1.0


Total
2,223
1,349.9



 

  Source: Scottish Workforce Information Standard System (SWISS) Data as at 30 September 2008.

  Note: 1. Following assimilation to Agenda for Change pay bands, domestic staff are identified by the "post-descriptors" shown in the table above. Any domestic staff that have assimilated to other "post descriptors" will not be counted as they cannot be readily identified. The job profiles for domestic staff also include other tasks and due to this the above table includes domestic staff employed to do tasks other than cleaning.

  NHS boards have been asked to ensure that records be maintained of how the additional resources announced for hospital cleaners is being used. The first return is due at the end of May 2009.

National Care Standards

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16028 by Shona Robison on 12 September 2008, what progress has been made on the review of national care standards and whether the review will be open to public consultation.

Shona Robison: I previously advised that work on the review of the National Care Standards would begin during 2009-10 and that is still the intention. It is likely however that it will be later in 2009 before that happens. Consultation will be a part of the review.

Ports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it can do to review the operation of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, which is experiencing a loss of jobs at its Invergordon service base.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to review the operations of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, which has confirmed that it is not experiencing any job losses at present.

Ports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate Cromarty Firth Port Authority’s decision to evict Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd from the service base at Invergordon.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to intervene in the Port Authority’s decision not to renew a one year licence to Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd, for a site adjacent to the port entrance.

Ports

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23570 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 May 2009, whether there are grounds for a review of the operation of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in light of trust port guidelines regarding their responsibilities to the community that they serve.

Stewart Stevenson: We are not aware of any grounds for such a review.

Poverty

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17530 by Stewart Maxwell on 12 November 2008, what discussions it has had with stakeholders in Scotland regarding the promotion of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010.

Alex Neil: Discussions with stakeholders are taking place on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in 2010. There is an active stakeholder group set up to influence and inform the UK programme. This group began meeting in February 2009. The group includes the Poverty Alliance, who represent a wide range of Scottish organisations and function as the national anti-poverty network in Scotland. This group will continue to play an active role in informing and influencing the programme of work currently being developed.

Procurement

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has subscriptions for (a) Sky and (b) Setanta TV output and, if so, how many and at what locations these services are provided.

John Swinney: The corporate TV services used by the Scottish Government are managed by Information Services and Information Systems (ISIS). ISIS does not have any subscriptions to Sky or Setanta for their TV output.

Roads

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to remove the A977 from the primary road network.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to alter the designation of the A977.

Roads

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make additional funds available to Perth and Kinross Council to introduce traffic-calming measures to meet the needs of increased road usage caused by traffic diverted from the Forth Road Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: I have no plans to provide additional funds to Perth and Kinross Council for this purpose. The joint Scottish Government/COSLA concordat sets out the terms of the relationship between the Scottish Government and local government, which includes an agreement on the level of funding allocated to each local authority. Issues surrounding local roads are a matter for each local authority to consider according to local needs and priorities.

Rural Transport

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme for 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is providing £100,000 in 2009-10 and in 2010-11 towards the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been responsible for the scheme since 1 April 2008.

Rural Transport

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the budget for the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to increase Scottish Government funding towards the Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been responsible for the scheme since 1 April 2008.

Scottish Futures Trust

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Scottish Futures Trust has had in respect of building shared school campuses across Scotland.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust has not held discussions specifically on shared school campuses. It is in the early stages of developing projects which focus on collaboration between public sector bodies. The content and scope of projects remains a matter for the individual authorities.

Scottish Futures Trust

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities the Scottish Futures Trust has met to discuss building shared school campuses.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust has not held discussions specifically on shared school campuses. It is in the early stages of developing projects which focus on collaboration between public sector bodies. The content and scope of projects remains a matter for the individual authorities.

Scottish Futures Trust

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what bodies the Scottish Futures Trust has met to discuss building shared school campuses, broken down by body and date of meeting.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust has not held discussions specifically on shared school campuses. It is in the early stages of developing projects which focus on collaboration between public sector bodies. The content and scope of projects remains a matter for the individual authorities.

Scottish Government Finance

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial commitment to PFI/PPP is for each local authority in 2009-10.

John Swinney: The information requested can be found in the following table.

  Estimated Total Annual PFI/PPP Unitary Payments by Local Authority

  

Local Authority
2009-10 (£m)


Aberdeen City 
6.6


Aberdeenshire
10


Angus 
11


Argyll and Bute 
19.8


City of Edinburgh
32.8


Clackmannanshire
7.6


Dumfries and Galloway 
10.1


Dundee City
12


East Ayrshire
8.3


East Dunbartonshire
11


East Lothian
7.7


East Renfrewshire
10.2


Falkirk
24


Fife
15.2


Glasgow City
46.3


Highland
24.5


Inverclyde
0.5


Midlothian
10.4


North Ayrshire
10.1


North Lanarkshire
17.4


Perth and Kinross
6.5


Renfrewshire
14


Scottish Borders
7.3


South Ayrshire
10.2


South Lanarkshire
27.1


Stirling
12.5


West Dunbartonshire
7


West Lothian 
9.9



  Notes:

  1. The figures contained in the table are inclusive of the Scottish Government PFI/PPP funding contribution.

  2. The table does not include the local authority figures for the Strathclyde Police procured Police Force Training Centre project in East Kilbride as these are not held centrally. However, the estimated total annual unitary payment for this project in 2009-10 is £3.6 million.

Sport

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have been allocated funding from the action plan for youth football and how much each project has been awarded.

Shona Robison: The Youth Action Plan for Football is divided into eight core projects, which are listed in the following table. The corresponding funding figures cover the period 2004 to 2008.

  

Regional Structure
£1,227,175


Professional Staff
£293, 296


Communication / Implementation
£391,843


Performance Programme
£6,105,045


Quality Marks 
£182,611


Facilities / Volunteer
£403,350


Modernisation / Monitoring
£57,413


Women’s and Girls’
£1,100,000

Sport

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has put in place to provide funding to local authorities for community sports arenas.

Shona Robison: Funding is available to local authorities for capital projects through the normal annual settlement process. It is for local authorities to determine what projects they will support through this mechanism. In addition, funding may be available from sportscotland to support the development of sports facilities.

Student Finance

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the criteria for Students Awards Agency for Scotland applications.

Fiona Hyslop: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland applications reflect the eligibility criteria as set out in the Students’ Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2007/ssi_20070153_en_1 .

  There are currently no plans to review the eligibility criteria for the Student Awards Agency for Scotland applications.

Student Finance

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research on the impact of changes to the process of student income assessment on the drop-out rate of students.

Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretary gave evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 2 September 2008 with regards to the Education (Means Testing) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008, and agreed to share information on the use of discretionary funds by institutions to support individuals who find themselves in hardship. The Cabinet Secretary further advised the committee on 18 February 2009 that the changes to the means test have not had any significant adverse effect on students.

  The evidence would therefore suggest that the changes to the means test are not affecting drop-out rates and therefore no further research is planned at this time. We will of course continue to monitor this situation on an on-going basis.

Transport Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the responsibilities are of the non-executive board members of Transport Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: There are two non-executive members of the Transport Scotland Board, Dr Iain Docherty and Dr Jacqueline Redmond. Both also sit on the Audit Committee, which Dr Redmond chairs. Their responsibilities are to advise the chief executive and to provide independent and informed contributions on strategic policy and delivery issues, bringing an external perspective to the work of the board.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliament Building

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider releasing and exhibiting Enric Miralles’s original authenticated drawings, designs and plans for the Parliament building as part of the celebrations to mark 10 years of the Parliament.

Tricia Marwick: A wide range of information relating to the development of the building design including Enric Miralles’ sketches is already exhibited on the Parliament’s website.

  The SPCB agreed in 2008 that the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament should be marked by introducing a range of public engagement initiatives. As part of this programme the SPCB has committed to introducing free public tours in September 2009. The tours will hopefully enable more members of the public to discover the architecture of the building and learn more about the Parliament’s work.